According to the MPD4D listserv, on Thursday, March 10th, at approximately 4:30 pm, members of the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division, executed a search warrant on the 800 b/o Rock Creek Church Road NW. It was later learned that the property in question was 805 Rock Creek Church Road, a rowhouse type building next to the daycare at 8th and Rock Creek Church Road.

The additional details are from the 4D listserv posting:

“This search warrant was a result of multiple community complaints along with an ongoing MPD investigation.

“This police and community partnership is a classic example of how things get done when we all work together.

“As a result of the warrant, MPD seized multiple quantities of controlled substances as well as a load firearm. Three adult males were arrested inside of the location.

“MPD will be working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to further abate this nuisance property.

I wanted to post about this as this is not the first, or likely the last, nuisance property we’ve had in the greater community. A few years ago there was one on the 600 b/o Park Road that was also resolved after collaboration with community members, MPD, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). I was aware of the Rock Creek Church Road issue and am also aware of a problem site in Columbia Heights. After talking with those involved with nuisance properties, one thing that was relayed to me is that since MPD’s reorganization of the vice squads last year it is talking longer to gather intelligence, build a case, and address nuisance properties.

I firmly believe that intelligence gathering is a critical component in addressing crime. Certainly, jump out squads were not the answer, but a network of plain clothes officers who know their beats, develop contacts and networks, and have first hand knowledge of the communities they are in seems like a no brainier to me. It would also go a long way in addressing nuisance properties in a more timely manner.

I completely agree with the statement of the VICE’s ability to gather intelligence and build cases. It was an absolute shame when they essentially disbanded them and there has been a noticeable difference in street drugs and drug house activity ever since – which is no coincidence.

Since the ‘reorganization’ every drug case now seemingly starts from scratch every time MPD is called in on it with no carryover of information/intelligence. Very ineffective system that continually deals with the same perpetrators and houses over and over with no resolution.

Certain crimes have certainly been on the rise since this happened. I also blame out councilmember, Brianne Nadeau, though. I don’t think she understands how bad it is in parts of Columbia Heights and Park View. All I hear from her is affordable housing and social service expansion. All of which I support, but how does that help us in the short term? We need better and stronger leadership on crime.

Yes, from what I’ve heard CM Nadeau is completely opposed to “jump out squads” as she unfairly refers to the as instead of addressing the fact that some form of neighborhood led plain clothes unit is very necessary to root out and discourage crime.

Why would MPD execute a search warrant on a known/suspected drug den next to a daycare when the daycare was in full operation? I don’t know the details of the case so I’m not in a position to be authoritatively judgmental. But it seems like an exceedingly bad idea, as evidenced by the loaded gun found alongside the controlled substances.

they did not even notify the daycare that it was happening as it was happening. My wife was picking up my son as the whole thing went down and was terrified. At the very least the police should have sent an officer into the daycare to tell them to shelter in place while they executed the warrant.

Because what, exactly, is less incendiary? And less incendiary/likely to result in gunfire than what? My benchmark is not whether the action is less likely to result in gunfire than a meth lab, but whether there is reason to think there is a chance that preventable gunfire will erupt at all near my son.

[…] yesterday. This property has long-been a know problem due to its use as a drug marketplace. Back in March MPD executed a search warrant at the place which resulted in MPD seizing multiple quantities of controlled substances as well as a loaded […]